Advocates have pushed for legalizing medical marijuana in New York state for more than a decade and lawmakers at one point agreed.

They are back once again, hoping that the new Senate leadership coalition may overcome what has traditionally been opposition by Republicans to such a move. Diane Savino, they note, is a member of the Independent Democratic Conference, which has joined forces with Republicans to control the state Senate. Savino in past years has carried a bill to legalize medical marijuana. The Assembly has passed such a measure but it hasn’t gotten through the Senate, at least in recent years.

Additionally, members of the state Alliance for Medical Marijuana say they have heard from senate Republicans who sound more amenable to adding New York to the list of more than a dozen other states that allow cannabis to be used for health reasons.

“There is definitely more support in the Republican conference than there has ever been,” said Evan Nison of the Alliance.

Members brought some medical marijuana users with them to Albany to bolster their argument.

“They don’t know what to do with me,” said Burt Aldrich, of Stone Ridge, UIster County. Paralyzed when he broke his neck jumping into a pool years ago, Aldrich says marijuana is the best way he’s found to ease the pain, spasms and muscle tightness he experiences. Recently, though, police found his marijuana in his home after they showed up responding to a break-in report.

He was charged but the case still hasn’t been resolved, said Aldrich.

“I’m tired of feeling like a criminal,” agreed Richard Williams of Richmondville, Schoharie County, who uses medical marijuana to relieve symptoms caused by HIV/AIDS and the medications he takes for that.

The Alliance’s Adam Scavone added that they hope a medical marijuana bill this year includes provisions to have the substance covered under the new I-Stop law designed to cut down on prescription drug abuse.

That would help reassure critics that the substance would be used for legitimate medical reason, rather than simply to get high.

“We’re talking about medical use only, here,” said Lisa Roche-Schroeder a nurse from Little Falls who supports legalized medical marijuana.

The Fairbanks Daily News-Miner (http://is.gd/hbseRB) says the sentence is the minimum for the crimes that Harshman pleaded guilty to. He admitted operating a more than 100-plant marijuana grow and having a firearm while committing a drug crime.

Harshman has been unsuccessful in withdrawing his guilty plea. Federal District Court Judge Ralph Beistline told Harshman that he got a good deal and has been treated fairly by the courts.